Panathinaikos Clinches Dramatic Penalty Shootout Victory to Complete Europa League Round of 16 Lineup

Europa League Playoff Results

According to Главком: The final matches of the 2025/2026 Europa League playoff first round have concluded. The lineup for the tournament's Round of 16 is now set following a dramatic penalty shootout that decided the last remaining spot. The Europa League, UEFA's second-tier club competition, often produces thrilling knockout-stage qualifiers like these.

In the decisive clash between Viktoria Plzeň and Panathinaikos, the Greek side took an early lead in the 9th minute through Andrews Tette. Viktoria Plzeň fought back, with Karel Spačil equalizing in the 62nd minute. The match took a dramatic turn in extra time when Panathinaikos's Javier Hernández Carrera received a red card in the 105th minute, leaving his team a man down. The match, officiated by Donatas Rumšas, ended 1-1 after regulation and extra time, forcing a penalty shootout. Panathinaikos ultimately triumphed 4-3 from the spot to secure their progression.

Other Playoff Match Results

The results from the other playoff ties are as follows:

• Ferencváros defeated Ludogorets 2-0 (3-2 on aggregate), with goals from Kanikovsky in the 14th minute and Zachariassen in the 30th.
• Crvena Zvezda lost to Lille 0-2 (1-2 on aggregate), with goals scored by Giroud in the 4th minute and N'Gou in the 99th.
• Stuttgart fell to Celtic 0-1 (4-2 on aggregate), the sole goal coming from McCowan in the 1st minute.
• Bologna secured a 1-0 win over Brann (2-0 on aggregate) thanks to a goal from Mariou in the 56th minute.
• Genk and Dinamo Zagreb played out a thrilling 3-3 draw, with Genk advancing 6-4 on aggregate.
• Nottingham Forest lost to Fenerbahçe 1-2 (4-2 on aggregate).
• In the match between Celta Vigo and PAOK, a 1-0 result (3-1 on aggregate) was secured by Svedberg's 63rd-minute goal.

The next matches for the Round of 16 winners are scheduled for March 12.

This concluding playoff round proved to be intense and full of drama, with many teams displaying a high level of play. Panathinaikos's advancement via penalties underscores the unpredictable nature of knockout football. The upcoming matches promise to be equally captivating, as the remaining contenders all possess significant potential to challenge for the title. Critical moments, such as red cards and decisive goals, are likely to continue shaping the outcomes in this prestigious European competition.